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H. T ADAMS.

MANUFACTURE OF BINDER RINGS. APPLICATION FILED NOV=8,1919.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY '1. ADAMS, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO HENRY T. ADAMS MFG. COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MANUFACTURE OF BINDER-RINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

Application filed November 8, 1919. Serial No. 336,661.

1 which are especially designed for use in connection with temporary binders. Such rings are also adapted to be used as key-rings and for other purposes.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved method of manufacturing binder-rings of the character mentioned, whereby such rings can be manufactured with greater facility and more cheaply than binder rings manufactured by known methods. .j

The invention will be understood w th reference to the accompanying drawlng, in which- Figure 1 represents a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of a binder-ring manufactured in accordance with the improved method, the view showing the ring partially open; Fig. 2, an enlarged sectional v1ew taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. 1, theremoved section of the ring being shown n dotted lines; Fig. 3, an enlarged broken v1ew illustrating an off-set manner 1n which the mugsections meet at their free ends; F 1g. 4:, a similar view illustrating the meeting ends of the ring-sections of the binder-ring, where the ring-sections have a smaller ofi-set wlth relation to each other than is shown in Figs. 2 and 3; Fig. 5, a broken view showing the free ends of the ring-sections in interlocked relation; and Fig. 6, a broken inner v1ew of the hinge-portion of the ring, the v ew being taken as indicated at line 6 of Fig.

The binder-ring shown comprises a rin section A provided with a hinge-portion A and a ring-section B provided with a hingeportion the hinge portlons belng securely connected together pivotally by means of a rivet 1.

The ring-sections preferably are made of steel wire of round cross-section, the metal of each ring-section being flattened at one end to form the hinge-portion. In the flattening operation, the metal is so pressed as to give the effect of a cut-away portion, or

recess, 2, for each ring-section, which'corresponds with and receives the hinge-portion of the companion ring-section, so that the hinge will be of approximately the same thickness as the wire which forms the ringsections. Also, in the operation of forming the hinge-portions provision is made for causing the ring-sections to occupy normally divergent planes, as will be understood from Figs. 2 and 3. This is accomplished preferably by so swaging the metal by means of the dies in the operation of forming the hinge-portions, as to make the hinge-portions somewhat tapering in cross-section. Thus, as indicated in Fig. 2, the inner edge 3 of each hinge-portion is thicker than the outer edge 3. The effect is, when the hingeportions are brought together with their inner faces occupying a central plane, to throw the ring-sections A and B in opposite directions from the central plane, as most clearly indicated in Fig. 2.

The ring-sections are provided at their free end-portions, on their remote sides (not the proximate sides) with interlock notches, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Thus, the ring-- section A is provided near its extremity with a transverse interlock notch 4 flanked on one side by an interlock projection 4 and the ring-section B is provided with an interlock notch 5 flanked on one side by an interlock projection 5 As has been pointed out, the beveling, or tapering, of the hinge-portions of the ringsections in a transverse direction results in throwing the ring-sections out of the same plane, as indicated in Fig. 2. When the parts are riveted together, the inner surfaces of the heads of the rivets naturally conform to the divergent outer surfaces of the hinge-portions The result is that when the ring-sections are opened, the hinge-joint tends to tighten somewhat, so that the ringsections will be held in somewhat stiil' relation to each other while in the open condition, thus facilitating the operation of inserting the leaves.

It will be observed that the invention contemplates such a formation of the hinge-portions of the ring-sections in the stamping or swaging operation as to produce a natural off-set of the ring-sections with relation to each other, so that the ring-sections will, occupy somewhat divergent planes when they are united by the pivot 1. The preferred method of producing this result is that described; and such result is attained Without the necessity of any subsequent operation, such as bending the ring-sections after-they are united by the pivot. The relation of the ring-sections is such that they must be placed under torsional stress in order to bring about an interlocking engagement; and when interlocked, the ring-sections will be securely held together by the resilience of the ring-sections, acting as a torsional stress tending to maintain the interlocked relation.

In Fig. 4, A and B represent the interlocked portions of a pair of ringsections which lie in slightly divergent planes, the off-set being less than that shown in Fig. 3. Where the ring-sections are of comparatively heavy stock, the off-set relation need not be great.

The improved binder-ring is especially adapted for use in connection with looseleaf binders, or for binding loose-leai sheets provided with perforations and adapted to be impaled upon the rings. The improved ring is also well adapted to use as a keyring, Which can be opened or closed with the greatest facility.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of producing a spring metal ring comprising a pair of ring-sections adapted to be held in interlocked relation by torsional stress exerted through the ring-sections, consisting in so swaging the pivot-portions of the ring-sections that when the pivot portions are brought together in overlapped relation and united by a rivet, the ring-sections Will normally occupy divergent planes.

2. The method of producing a spring metal ring comprising a pair of ring-sections adapted to be held in interlocked relation by torsional stress exerted through the ringsections, consisting in swaging the pivot portions of the ring-sections so that the inner edges thereof are thicker than the outer edges thereof and uniting said pivot portions by a rivet, so that the ring-sections will normally occupy divergent planes.

HENRY T. ADAMS. 

